Murjea and Shia

In the tenth chapter of ‘Maqalaat e Tareekhi’, it is written that: ‘in one of the debates that took place between Abu Hanifa and ‘Momin ut Taaq’, the term Shia and Murjea has been used against each other: Abu Hanifa said to ‘Momin ut Taaq’: I have heard that you Shias believe that when one amongst you dies, you remove his left hand from his body so that his book (of deeds)  is handed to him in his right hand on the day of Judgment.

Momin ut Taaq said: This is not true, but I too have heard that when one among you Murjea dies, you place a vessel full of water in his back so that he does not feel thirsty on the Day of Judgment!

Abu Hanifa replied: That word has been falsely associated to you and this has been falsely associated to us. [1]

A book of Momin ut Taaq by the name ‘Muhasiba ma’a Abi Hanifa wal Murjea’ is said to exist.[2] Just like Abu Yahya Jarjaani also had a book with the caption ‘Munaziratus’ Shi’ei wal Murjii fil Mas’hi alal Khafain’.[3] In this book, both the term Shia against the term Murje’i with the meaning of Sunni, has been used.

It is notable that the support of Abu Hanifa towards Zaid bin Ali and Nafs e Zakiyya, depicts a considerably friendly stand of Abu Hanifa with regard to the Leader of the believers, Ali (a.s.).

It is mentioned in a narration that Abu Hanifa stood in favor of the stand taken by Ali (a.s.) against his enemies and he considered his enemies to be misguided. He emphasizes that if it was not for the battles fought by Ali (a.s.), we would not know what stand should be taken against the rebels.[4] This statement has also been associated to Shafe’i.

We have also witnessed the utility of the term ‘Murjea’ with reference to the enemies of Ali (a.s.) and even the Nasibi sect (those who possess hatred against the Holy Progeny of Prophet). An evidence is present in the statement of ‘Iskaafi’ who writes: ‘the position of Murjea in terms of hatred and mistreatment towards Ali (a.s.) is the same as the position of the Jews in their offence and hatred towards Jesus the son of Maryam.’’[5] This implication is absolutely similar to the one in Shia narrations and scripts. Similarly, Iskaafi places the terms Nasibah, Nabitah and Murjea in line with each other.[6]

The most evident proof of the implication of the term Murjea for the Nasibah, is probably the poetry quoted by Jahiz and Mas’oodi. As per Mas’oodi, Mamoon wanted to humiliate Ibrahim bin Mahdi who stood against him in Baghdad and became the standard bearer of the Sunni sect. Ali ibn Muhammad e Mukhtar e Behaqi recited these couplets for him:

اذ المرجّ سرّک أن تراہ                           یموت لحینہ من قبل موتہ

                  فجدّد عندہ ذکریٰ علی                   وصلّ علی النبیّ و آل بیتہ                       

 “If you wish to observe the death of Murjea before the arrival of their actual fate, mention the name of Ali (a.s.) before them and recite Salawaat on Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) and his Holy progeny”[7].

Jahiz has also placed Shias against the Murjea in his book ‘Al Othmaniya’[8].[9]

If the statment of Iskaafi is considered true about Murjea that their enmity and grudge against the Leader of the believers, Ali (a.s.), is similar to the hostility of Jews towards Jesus, then we must say that either Abu Hanifa was not a Murjea or the words narrated from him in the favor of the Leader of the believers (a.s.) and in the opposition of his enemies are not true. If the hostility of Murjea against the Leader of the Believers (a.s.) reaches to the extent of Nasibi, it does not make sense that being a Murjea, Abu Hanifa praised and supported the Leader of the Believers (a.s.).

          In every case, the hostility and enmity of Murjea towards the Leader of the Believers (a.s.) and his Shias is definite. Therefore, the Umayyad dynasty extended their support towards Murjea in order to sow the seeds of enmity towards the Holy Progeny (a.s.) in the hearts of the people which would keep them away from the House of Revelation. In a few traditions, the hatred of Murjea towards the Holy Progeny (a.s.) is evident.